After being framed for a crime he didn’t commit, former private eye Nick Navarro has nothing but revenge on his mind—until a woman from his past returns to beg for his help.

Beautiful widow Sasha Porter has been hunted by his enemies. Desperate, she offers him anything to keep her young daughter safe, even agreeing to become his mistress. The last thing either of them want are emotional entanglements but as they entrap the ruthless politician who arranged Nick’s downfall and passion sizzles between them, danger closes in.

Review

Even in a short novella, Shayla Black shows the complexities of her characters by offering readers an intimate perspective into what her hero and heroine are thinking and feeling and the maelstrom that brews within them for not only revenge but passion as well.

Nick Navarro and Sarah Porter are hesitant to show their true feelings for each other because they’re both in precarious positions…not only is Sarah on the run, attempting to escape the devious plans of a madman who wants her dead, but Nick’s relationship with Sarah’s deceased husband as well as his need to protect her and her child causes him to perfect his asshole façade and do what needs to be done in order to keep them safe.

But the heart and body want what they want, and Nick definitely wants and needs to indulge in the woman who owns his heart, even if he’s bad for her…even if he feels like he’s betraying his friend. Nick’s always felt a connection to Sarah, and now that she’s with him, there’s an urgent need to dirty her up and claim her as his and despite his misgivings and the common enemy who’s hunting them, their wicked sides come out to play and prove that in the midst of chaos, passion wins out.

Nick and Sarah’s story is a definite guilty pleasure; it’s a dirty, wicked read that brings passion, suspense, and intrigue to its readers and offers an escape from the mundane into a world of raw feelings, duplicitous acts, and decadent moments.

4 Poison Apples

Excerpt

“Clifford is looking for a blonde with a toddler, not a brunette with a boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend. Me. We’re going to the bandstand about midmorning, after the joggers but before the stroll-through-the-park-at-lunch crowd. The moms pushing strollers that time of day won’t pay us much mind. If Clifford has surveillance on the area, all he’ll see is two people hand in hand, seemingly in love.” He picked up the Saints ball cap he’d bought and shoved it on his head. “Not only will you look different, but by tomorrow morning, I’ll have enough stubble to pass as a beard. With the bill over my face and these”—he extracted a pair of cheap, dark sunglasses, tag dangling—“no one will recognize me. You have a pair in there, too.”

“And makeup?” She ignored the glasses and started pulling cosmetics from the bag.

Sasha studied the BB cream that was supposed to adjust to her skin tone, the soft peachy-pink blush, and a translucent powder. A little compact with some brown, gold, and rosy shadows pressed into the shape of an eye shimmered behind the plastic lid.

“The woman said these colors would work for most anyone. When I told her you had hazel eyes, she recommended those shadows.”

“You remembered?”

The color of her eyes? Yeah, he’d never forgotten. “There’s a nude lip in there, too. Whatever that means.”

Nick wished like hell Sasha would give him some sort of reaction. Was she pleased? Pissed? Or just puzzled?

Suddenly, she smiled at him. “This is the most makeup I’ve had in what seems like forever. Oh, the lipstick looks pretty. Mascara!” She hugged it to her chest. “I’ve missed this. Thanks.”

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty novels. For over fifteen years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.

Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past seven years.

Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her teenage daughter, and a very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.